Railroad trench-machine.



M. G. BUNNELL.

RAILROAD TRENCH MACHINE. APPLICATION HLED 011.12. 1909. RENEWED MAY 23. 1913.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

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M. G. BUNNELL.

RAILROAD TRENCH MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 12. 1909. RENEWED MAY 23. I9l3.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

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MT/VESSES o 'oo-v'u- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MORTON G. BUNNELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIG-NOR TO FREDERICK C. AUSTIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

. RAILROAD TRENCI-I-MACI-IIN E.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

Application filed April 12, 1909, Serial No. 489,307. Renewed May 23, 1913. Serial No. 769,500.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MORTON G. BUNNELL, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Railroad Trench-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to excavating machines, and more particularly to excavators adapted for trenching.

Machines of this kind are employed in making ditches for tile or conduit or the like, and are capable of cutting a trench in the ground as the machine moves slowly forward.

Generally stated, the object of my invention is to provide an improved form of trenching machine, of the above general character, and for the general purposes specified. v

A special object is to provide an excavator for use in laying conduits, or for other pur poses, as by cutting a trench along the side ofa railroad track, and to provide an excavator which will be capable, therefore, of traveling along the track, in the manner of an ordinary flat car, and which will furnish power to operate the trenching device which overhangs the side of the machine to an extent sufficient to form the trench for the conduit at a suitable distance from the side of the track.

With a machine embodying the principles of my invention, a trench or ditch, for any desired purpose, can be dug along a railroad track, by simply running the excavator car along the rails thereof, the car being preferably self-propelling.

To the foregoing and other useful ends, my invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is a side elevation of-an excavator embodying the principles of my invention, showing the same in operation, whereby atrench or ditch is being dug at the side of a railroad track upon which the excavator travels like an ordinary flat car, except that it is selfpropelling. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the said machine. Fig. 3 is a plan of the same.

As thus illustrated, my invention comprises a flat car A having the usual car wheels B, whereby it is adapted to travel upon the rails C of the track. The excavating device D is carried at the side of the and lower ends of the swinging excavating device. These wheels are mounted upon shafts d and d, as shown. The belt travels 'between a pair of sides or boards 03, which latter are carried on the shaft 03 The shaft d is carried in the lower ends of these sides 03 The shaft 03 is supported in bearings carried on a frame (i which overhangs the side of the car. A bail d is pivotally secured to the sides of the excavating or cutting device, and has its upper end pivotally connected with the crank arm al on the rock shaft (Z carried on the car. By means of a lever 01 this shaft (Z can be rocked to raise and lower the excavating device D, by swinging the lower end of the same up and down about an axis coincident with, the shaft (i The forward or under side of the belt d travels up and the top or rear side travels down.

A shield E, adjustably carried on the inner side of the excavating device D, prevents the excavated dirt from crowding over onto the track. The adjustability of the said shield can be obtained in any suitable manner.. A deflector or scraper F, adjustably secured to the outside of the excavating device, and disposed obliquely to the line of travel, with its outer end slightly to the rear of its inner end, serves to throw the dirt away from the ditch or trench. The adjustability of said scraper is obtained by bolt holes f in the side (8, adapted to engage the bolts f and f of the arms f and 7' of the scraper. The arm f has a slot for the bolt ffiwhereby an angular adjustment of the scraper about the bolt f may be had. Simi- .litl' adjusting means can be used for the shield E. Thus all excavated dirt is left in a ridge outside of the trench. The said shield E cooperates with the cutter to push andnected with said engine or motor in any suitable manner. The car wheels are driven from this shaft, by any suitable transmission. The shaft 01 is also driven from the shaft 9, by any suitable means. Clutches X and Y may be used, respectively, for controlling the transmission of power to the car wheels and the excavating device. Thus the car can be run without operating the excavating device, and said device can be operated without communicating power to the car wheels.

The mode of operation is as follows: The device D is lowered to the ground, and the car started ahead. The power is also connected with the belt d. Thus the said belt operates as the car moves along. In this way the device D cuts a trench or ditch as the car moves along the track. The dirt cut and carried up by the belt is pushed forward, and then outward by the deflector or scraper F, as explained. The depth of the trench or ditch is regulated by the lever d, which has means for looking it in difierent positions. Asegment H can be employed for this purpose, as shown.

When the car is traveling from place to place, the excavating device D is drawn up and remains idle at the side of the excavator. The car can be used for carrying men and materials.

Thus I provide a self-propelling excavator capable of traveling upon an ordinary track, and capable of rapidly and economically and effectively cutting a trench. at the side of the track, whereby tile or conduit may then be laid in the ordinary manner.

Considered in connection with the kind of work shown, the device D is in the nature of a trench cutter carried at the side of the car. It may also be used for making ditches for drainage purposes. By varying the shape of the said device, various'kinds of ditches can be dug. The endless belt can also be varied, by suitable modification, for carrying the dirt upward without discharging it directly onto the ground. The dirt might be carried upward and delivered to the other side of the car, or onto the car. For these reasons, I do not limit myself to use of the said devices for trenching. Means, of any suitable character, are provided for varying the speed of the car, depending upon the kind of soil or the character of the work. For example, the ratio or proportion of the sprocket gearing Z, by which the engine drives the car wheels, may be varied or changed for different kinds of work, or for different kinds of soil. The speed of the car will also be dependent, more or less, upon the depth at which the device D is operating. Clutches and gearing, however, are so common that no further explanation is necessary.

Obviousy, means can be provided for varying the distance of the device D from the side of the track, or from the side of the car. This can be done by sliding the wheel d on the shaft 9, and by sliding the arm al on the shaft J, said shafts being made long enough for this purpose. Or other suitable means of adjustment can be used for this purpose.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In an excavator, means for cutting a trench atv one side of the road bed, comprising a suitable traveling body, a trench cutter disposed at one side thereof, a shield for preventing the dirt from crowding inward, and a scraper for throwing the dirt outward, the cutter running between the shield and scraper.

2. In an excavator, means for cutting a trench at one side of the road bed, comprising a suitable traveling body, a trench cutter disposed at one side thereof, a shield for preventing the dirt from crowding inward, and a scraper for throwing the dirt outward, the cutter running between the shield and scraper, said trench cutter consisting of an ,endless belt with cutters thereon, mounted on said body, said cutter operating to discharge the dirt carried upward thereby on the surface of the ground.

3. In an excavator, means for cutting a trench at one side of the road bed, comprising a suitable traveling body, a trench cutter disposed at one side thereof, mounted to move up and down, a shield for preventing the dirt from crowding inward, and a scraper for throwing the dirt outward, the cutter running between the shield and scraper, said scraper being suitably mounted on the outer side of said trench cutter, movable up and down therewith.

4:. In an excavator, means for cutting a trench at one side of the road bed, comprising a suitable traveling body, a trench cutter disposed at one side thereof, a shield for preventing the dirt from crowding inward, a scraper for throwing the dirt outward, the cutter running between the shield and scraper, and means for varying the angle of said trench cutter, about an axis extending transversely of said body, serving to hold said cutter against rising while in working position between said shield and scraper.

5. In an excavator, meansfor cutting a trench at one side of the road bed, comprising a suitable traveling body, a trench cutter disposed at one side thereof, means whereby said cutter may be raised and lowered, a shield for preventing the dirt from crowding inward, and a scraper for throwing the dirt outward, the cutter running between the shield and scraper, said shield and scraper being mounted on said trench cutter, movable up and down therewith.

6; In an excavator, a traveling body, a

trench cutter carriedf thereby, at one side thereof, for cutting a trench atone side of 35m the road bed, having means to discharge the dirt on the ground ahead of the trench, and a shield for preventing the loose dirt from crowding over the road bed, disposed inside of said cutter, secured thereto, and movable therewith about a horizontal axis, cooperating with the trench cutter to keep all of the dirt at the outer side of the trench.

7. In an excavator, a traveling body, a trench cutter carried thereby, at one side thereof, for cutting a trench at one side of the road bed, operating to discharge the dirt on the ground ahead of the trench, means for raising and lowering the cutter, and a scraper for pushing the dirt away from the outer side of the trench, secured to said cutter movable up and down therewith.

8. In an excavator, a traveling body a trench cutter carried thereby, at one slde thereof, for cutting a trench at one side of the road bed, having means to discharge dirt on the ground ahead of the trench, and a scraper disposed in position for pushing the dirt away from the outer side of the trench, arranged at the outer side of said cutter, and bodily movable therewith about a horizontal axis, means to propel the excavator forward, mechanism for operating said cutter,during the forward travel of the excavator, and means to secure the scraper to the sideof the cutter.

9. In an excavator, a traveling body, a

trench cutter carried thereby, at one side thereof, for cutting a trench at one side of the road bed, having means to discharge the dirt 011 to the ground ahead of the trench, means for operating said cutter and means whereby all of the dirt brought up to the surface by said cutter is pushed and crowded to the outer side only of the trench, together with means for propelling said body while the cutter is operating.

Signed by me at Chicago, Illinois, this 5th day of April, 1909.

MORTON G. BUNN ELL. Witnesses:

C. E. TAYLOR, E. H. CLEGG. 

